Bulgaria Inside

The dome of Kremikovtsi Monastery’s church can be seen from a distance. St. George Monastery is situated three km south of Sofia’s district of Kremikovtsi, on the southern slope of Stara Planina Mountain.

To reach the monastery, you need to follow the district’s main street. It turns into a smaller road and will lead you directly to the monastery’s parking lot. It has the capacity to accommodate buses and a big number of cars.

The monastery was founded during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, probably under the reign of tsar Ivan Alexander. It quickly became one of the important religious centers in Sofia region.

Ottomans conquered Bulgarian territories shortly after and according to some historic writings, the monastery was destroyed. It was renovated in 1493, a century later.

According to another hypothesis, a local ruler lost his children during plague epidemics. He renewed the church and provided funding for the monastery to honor the children , which signifies that the monastery was still functioning and not destroyed.

Today, the most important landmark is the old church dating back to 1493. The church was richly decorated and some of the wall paintings have been renewed. Paintings were added during the 17th century, when the church was renovated. A second major renovation took place in 1879, when several nuns settled in the complex.

A new church was built in 1902. It protects important relics among which a wooden iconostasis from the 17th century and a gospel from 1497.

The monastery sees many visitors each day, especially during weekends and holidays. It does not offer accommodation and a restaurant is missing. Visitors can spend some time in the yard, using the benches and tables placed there.